Shelf-stackers are working at full speed as the opening day for the new John Lewis in Birmingham fast approaches.

It is just over a fortnight until the regional flagship store, and corner stone of Grand Central, throws wide its doors ready to welcome the throngs of customers that will undoubtedly be waiting.

An incredible 300,000 items have to be hung, stocked or otherwise displayed on the 4,000 fixtures in readiness for the event on Thursday the 24th – a big part of what has been dubbed Super September in the city.

Racks of clothes are readied for display

John Lewis has invested £35 million in the 250,000 sq ft shop, one of its biggest in the UK. It will also be its most advanced department store to date.

Up to 70 multi-deck vehicles will make 250 deliveries of stock this week. These items will be carried up in 35,000 totes and 1,500 cages – enough to fill the Genting Arena twice over.

Enough delivery totes are being used to stretch 13 miles

Laid end to end, the 35,000 stock delivery totes would stretch 13 miles – the equivalent of the distance from the shop to Bromsgrove or Wolverhampton.

In the womenswear department alone, there will be 400 styles of women’s shoes – one for each event held at the NEC in a year.

Enough shoes to wear a new pair to every event at the NEC

The technology department will offer 16 different curved TV options, 117 styles of headphones, and 143 different computers and tablets.

The home department will include 99 styles of rug, 91 ranges of china and 90 different towel ranges.

A rainbow array of towels is precisely arranged

And in the famous John Lewis haberdashery department, home sewers will have their pick of range of 300 yarns, 154 different buttons and nearly 300 ribbon designs.

John Lewis will be part of Grand Central, the shopping mall above the revamped New Street Station.

The curtain collection should draw customers

The train station will be officially opened on Sunday, September 20, after a five year development programme.